Wings

original title:
Wings
other titles:
The Drama of the Skies
country / year of production:
original length:
139 min. , black/white
premiere:
12 August 1927
based on:
cinematographer:
composer:
more:
plot synopsis:
Two young aviators Powell and Amstrong go through basic training together, and eager to see some action, are soon send to France. At first there is some tension between the two recruits over a home-town girl who prefers Armstrong but does not want to hurt Powell`s feelings. On their first dawn patrol an exciting battle occurs during which the two buddies are pitted against the deadly Captain Kellermann and his Flying Circus. Later, both become decorated war heroes. During one mission Armstrong is shot down over German territory but survives. He commandeers an enemy airplane and heads for his own airfield. Powell, thinking his buddy is dead, searched out enemy targets to avenge Armstrong`s death. After wrecking havoc on the enemy he spots Armstrongs plane and shoots it down thinking its pilot is a German. When he lands the discovers the tragedy. After the war, he visits Armstrong`s parents and receives their forgiveness - and reunites with the girl from next door.
literature:
John Monk Saunders. Wings. Based on the Paramount picture, illustrated with scenes from the photoplay. New York: Grosset&Dunlap, 1927.
remarks:
The film was released the same year that Lindbergh flew his nonstop flight across the Atlantic, so it wasn`t too astonishing that audiences were interested in movies with airplanes.
An opening titlecard of the film presents a tribute by Lindbergh to those who flew in the war.

The battle sequence is a re-enactment of the St. Mihiel offensive. For a fee of $250.000 the US army provided Paramount with the help of the 2nd Infantry Division`s Army Engineers. They reconstructed the battlefield near St. Antonio and served as actors for the mass scenes - but only under the condition that the studio ensured each servicemen with $10.000 and that it agreed to allow government officials to approve the finished film.

The first feature film to win an Academy Award.
availability:
VHS NTSC